Applying stain with a rag

[jkg]

My first post was about linseed/mineral spirit finish. Apparently this finish was popular for many years and there's several articles on the web about it being used on highways with good results. Here's that post if you want to follow my research into this finish (I'm hoping someone on the board will show us some pics and give us the scoop on this type of finish):
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8483

I am also considering a semi-transparent stain (like the Behr product at Home Depot). I think I'd rather touch up spots with inexpensive stain rather than deal with epoxy. I like the look of plastic garage tiles, but the seams bother me since they will leak. Ceramic is too expensive, epoxy will fail (scratch, etc), rolled mats stain, VCT is slippery and requires a flat surface. Polished concrete seems good, but holy **** its expensive!

I'd also like to add some color to the floor. I just painted the walls and would like to finish off the garage with a colored floor.

Here's my question:

Has anyone tried to apply stain (not acid stain) with a rag and rub it into the concrete? The reason I ask is that when I painted my walls, I was lazy and did not put drop cloths down and some latex primer and paint got on the floor. I was planning on covering the concrete or shot blasting it so I didn't worry about it. What I found was that the drips, splatters, and rolled areas cleaned up pretty easy, but the areas that got smudged or rubbed have paint deep into the pores.

It seems that applying too much paint or stain makes it prone to lifting as someone mentioned in another thread. I'm guessing that epoxy overcomes this by being stronger than paint. Anyway, the paint in my concrete ain't coming out. I wired brushed a small spot and the concrete needs to be removed before the paint is taken off. This is just interior latex too.

So, I wonder how 2 coats of rubbed in stain would do instead of thick coats of stain applied by roller or sprayer. If you stain wood you would use a sponge or rag right? Does anyone stain wood with a roller?

Maybe the linseed finish would be a nice compliment to the hand rubbed stain.

Any thoughts?

 

[PAToyota]

I'd consider one of the "lambswool" applicators that you use for hardwood floor finishes. Someone on here used the Behr stain on their floor - a turquiose color if I remember correctly.

 

[carguy123]

I did that several years ago in my house and it worked and lasted wonderfully.

I went to Home Depot and Lowes and bought their OOPS stains and then used them in patches to get the effect I wanted (almost and undersea effect) then I coated it with a clear poly (I think).

It lasted for over 5 years with no touch up. I finally carpeted over it because we thought we were going to sell.

I used a flexible sanding pad to put mine down because the concrete was a little rough. This knocked the sharper edges off and let me work the stain into the concrete.

 

[Kent in KC]

Did you try commercial grade Goof Off on those paint spills? It works for me.

 

[pirate]

I don't know if the link will work but I have used the Behr Solid Concrete Stain mixed with Seal Krete Garage Floor Sealer. After pressure washing the floor I too had some paint spots on the floor as well as a few unknown stains. I am happy with the floor but I found the sealer/stain mixture will not cover stains or paint residue very well without a few coats. The Seal Krete directions say it can also be mixed with concrete paint which would probably cover better but I don't know how durable it might be.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4460